It’s very similar to the term used historically to refer to blacks — Negro.
See the etymology of the word -—
http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=Negro
IT SAYS :
1555, from Sp. or Port. negro “black,” from L. nigrum (nom. niger) “black,” of unknown origin. Use with a capital N- became general early 20c. (e.g. 1930 in “New York Times” stylebook) in ref. to U.S. citizens of African descent, but because of its perceived association with white-imposed attitudes and roles the word was ousted late 1960s in this sense by Black (q.v.).
“Professor Booker T. Washington, being politely interrogated ... as to whether negroes ought to be called ‘negroes’ or ‘members of the colored race’ has replied that it has long been his own practice to write and speak of members of his race as negroes, and when using the term ‘negro’ as a race designation to employ the capital ‘N’ “ [”Harper’s Weekly,” June 2, 1906]
SUDDENLY, THE TERM IS TABOO and people who use this word are considered racist ( Rush Limbaugh doesn’t care though because he still parodies Obama using the music of Peter, Paul and Mary — ‘Bam the Magic Negro’.
In the same manner, Allah has been used by Christians to refer to God for CENTURIES. Suddenly, it is now a controversial word and Malaysians want to ban its use to refer to God.
Why do we give people such power to CONTROL the use of words ?
All I’m saying is that the folks who don’t want Christians and Jews to use the word Allah seem to come in two kinds, Muslems and westerners who only associate the word with Muslems because they don’t realize some Jews and Christians are and have been using the word.
Freegards